Shield, 53, is charged with one count of bank fraud and one count of money laundering.

If convicted, Shield could face a maximum of 50 years in prison and more than $1 million in fines. But prosecutors said Monday that they expected a plea agreement in the case. Shield's attorney couldn't be reached for comment Monday.

The FBI said Shield wrote checks to herself and cashed them to finance gambling trips to Atlantic City N.J.; buy a new car; and purchase furniture, court records indicate.

The pattern of fraud and abuse allegedly started in February 1992, a few months after Shield began her employment, and continued until the medical group terminated her for unauthorized leave and poor performance.

"She was the sole manager of the medical practice and had complete control over the bookkeeping and accounting," Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Patricco said.

One of Shield's duties was to reconcile bank accounts, but she was not authorized to sign checks.

Peninsula Gastroenterology began an inquiry into possible fraud in May, after Shield's successor got a call from the accountant preparing the 2000 tax return.

The accountant asked for an invoice on the purchase of $8,000 in furniture. A review of canceled checks "found a number of large-dollar-value checks made payable to Cleo Shield," the complaint said.

An FBI inventory of items seized from the defendant's home covered three pages and included casino receipts; bank statements; and a June 25, 2001, newspaper article where Shield boasted about her newly purchased 2001 Audi TT.

A court affidavit said Shield paid $15,000 in cash as a down payment on the $40,749 car and alleged that she "forged three checks totaling $21,000 to herself from the practice's account."

Shield's husband said Monday that his wife had no comment about the charges. A manager at Peninsula Gastroenter- ology on Jefferson Avenue referred questions to the FBI.

A hearing date for the case hasn't been scheduled.

David Chernicky can be reached at 247-4743 or by e-mail at dchernicky@dailypress.com